Side-stream particle precipitator apparatus and sustem for condenser open loop cooling system

ABSTRACT

A side-stream particle precipitator system for the breakdown and removal of organic and inorganic suspended solids in water cooling systems using a plurality of ionizer treatment units utilizing electric and electro-magnetic fields and a mechanical vortex precipitating system with a static mixer for increasing retention time of the water complex in the precipitator to remove particulate materials contained in the water complex as suspended solids. The system also uses high voltage electrodes for charging the water complex to breakdown laminar flow at the conduit walls to mechanically dislodge any build-up of bio-materials or chemical compounds along the walls resulting in an increase in thermal conductivity.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The instant application claims priority to, and incorporates expresslyby reference, U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No.15/143,593, filed on May 1, 2016, which application was published asU.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2016/0257591 A1 on Sep. 8,2016 and remains pending as of the date of filing of this application,and which prior application claimed priority from U.S. Non-Provisionalpatent application Ser. No. 14/256,997, filed on Apr. 20, 2014, whichApplication was published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2015/0299014 A1 on Oct. 22, 2015, and which prior application is nowabandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to both electrostatic and electromagnetictreatment of fluid systems and more particularly to the construction andoperation of water treating devices having electrostatic fields,electromagnetic fields, and micro-particle filtering to remove bothparticulate and biological materials from the water flowing within thesystem. The word “water”, as used herein, means water complexescontaining dissolved and suspended solids, biological materials, etc.,as are normally found in a great many industrial and residentialapplications.

Industrial water cooling systems, including heat exchangers and watercooling towers, are examples of closed-loop and open loop recirculatingsystems that are susceptible to water complex contamination and fouling,as well as the buildup of scale or corrosion along the inner surfaces ofthe water conduits with the reduction of thermal transfer properties dueto increased levels of particulate and biologic materials contained inthe water stream and on the container surfaces. Closed recirculatingsystems use heat exchangers and circulate water in a closed loop withnegligible evaporation to the atmosphere. Heat is transferred from aprocess system to the closed cooling water loop by heat exchangeequipment and removed from the closed system loop by a second exchangeof heat for cooling in an open recirculating system, commonly a watercooling tower open to the environment. Most chilled water systems willincorporate an open recirculating cooling water system with a coolingtower for condenser cooling.

Cooling water systems are subject to a variety of contaminants that caninterfere with heat transfer, increase corrosion rates, restrict waterflow, and cause loss of process efficiency and production. Customizedscale inhibitor programs have been deemed necessary by existing industryrecommendations for the prevention of mineral scales including calciumcarbonate, calcium sulfate, calcium phosphate, magnesium silicate, andother silica compounds, and mixtures of these, and sludge and organicparticulates including silt and windblown debris, biological deposits,metallic oxides, corrosion products, and other contaminants. Mineralscales form when dissolved solids and minerals are introduced to acooling water system through a raw water source or as a result ofairborne contamination. These dissolved solids precipitate when thesolubility levels are exceeded due to increased concentrations, elevatedwater temperature, and higher pH levels. Sludge and organics form whensuspended material (by-products of corrosion, dust, sand, microbialgrowth, and minerals) are introduced through influent water or airborneimpurities.

These conditions have been historically treated with some form ofchemical to either inhibit or disperse the water system contaminant. Thefunction of a dispersant, or antifoulant, is to prevent theagglomeration of solids and their accumulation on critical surfaces.Materials that handle these potential deposits have been referred to inthe industry as dispersants, polymers, penetrating agents, depositcontrol materials, polyectrolytes, crystal modifiers, antifoulants,sequestrants, mineral stabilizers, antiscalants, surfactants, mudremovers, and emulsifiers, all of which are introduced into the fluidstream as some form of chemical additive.

Another problem that exists in cooling systems using a water complex asa coolant is the occurrence of corrosion along the fluid conduitinternal surfaces. Such corrosion can be caused by dissolved oxygen inthe water, precipitation of insoluble minerals, the breakdown ofanti-freezing compositions, e.g., glycolic acids, and bacterialcontamination. Corrosion inhibitors are designed to prevent metal lossalong the fluid conduit and on metal containment surfaces that wouldotherwise lead to critical system failures in heat exchangers,recirculating water piping, and process cooling equipment. Moreover,corrosion will result in a loss of thermal efficiency as corrosionproducts precipitate on critical heat transfer devices and create aninsulative deposit on the metal heat exchange surfaces.

Corrosion may be caused by metals attempting to return to their naturalstate. Corrosion can be present in many forms including uniform metalloss, localized or pitting, bi-metallic, galvanic, and microbiologicalinduced corrosion. The process starts when surface irregularities,stresses, or compositional differences result in the formation of acorrosion cell (anode and cathode). Once started, corrosion at the anodecauses metal to be released into the system or re-deposited locally.Pitting is particularly problematical because the local loss of metalcan result in through-wall perforation of piping and tubing.

The industry has treated water cooling systems with a number ofcorrosion inhibiting chemicals that fall into three classes: organic,inorganic, and non-phosphate corrosion inhibitors. These products areengineered to passivate metals by reducing the corrosion potentialassociated with the anode and cathode of the corrosion cell. Chemicalsthat form protective films at the anode include chromate,orthophosphate, nitrite, silicate, and molybdate. Chemicals that formfilms on the cathode include calcium carbonate, polyphosphate, zinc,phosphonate, and a number of azoles.

The three most reliable corrosion inhibitors for closed cooling watersystems are chromate, molybdate, and nitrite materials. Generally, thechromate or molybdate types have proven to be superior treatments. Formixed metallurgy systems, the molybdate inhibitors provide the bestcorrosion protection. Chromate treatments in the range of 500-1000 ppmas Cr₄O²⁻ are satisfactory unless bimetallic influences exist. When suchbimetallic couples as steel and copper are present, chromate treatmentlevels are recommended to be increased to exceed 2000 ppm. Maximuminhibitor effectiveness can be achieved if the pH of these systems iskept between 7.5 and 9.5.

In a closed system, it can be quite difficult to prevent corrosion ofaluminum and its alloys; the pH of the water must be maintained below9.0. Aluminum is amphoteric as it will dissolve in both acids and bases,and its corrosion rate accelerates at pH levels higher than 9.0. Thebimetallic couple that is most difficult to cope with is that of copperand aluminum, for which chromate concentrations even higher than 5000ppm may not be adequate. Also, where circulating pumps are equipped withcertain mechanical seals, such as graphite, chromate concentrations maynot exceed 250 ppm. This is due to the fact that water leaking past theseals evaporates and leaves a high concentration of abrasive salts thatcan damage the seal. Another problem is encountered when chromateinhibitors are used in cooling systems serving compressors that handlesour gas. If sour gas leaks from the power cylinder into the watercircuit, significant chromate reduction will occur, causing poorcorrosion control and deposition of reduced chromate. In view of thestated problems, treatment of the water with corrosion inhibitors in theform of chemicals compositions is not a complete resolution of theproblem.

In very high heat transfer rate applications, such as continuous castermold cooling systems, chromate levels should be maintained at 100-150ppm maximum. Under these extreme conditions, chromate can accumulate atthe grain boundaries on the mold, causing enough insulation to createequipment reliability problems. The toxicity of high-chromateconcentrations may restrict their use, particularly when a system mustbe drained frequently. Current legislation has significantly reduced theallowable discharge limits and the reportable quantity for the spill ofchromate-based products. Depending on the type of closed system and thevarious factors of State/Federal laws limiting the use of chromate, anon-chromate alternative may be needed.

Molybdate treatments provide effective corrosion protection and anenvironmentally acceptable alternative to chromate inhibitors.Nitrite-molybdate-azole blends inhibit corrosion in steel, copper,aluminum, and mixed-metallurgy systems. Molybdates are thermally stableand can provide excellent corrosion protection in both soft and hardwater. System pH is normally controlled between 7.0 and 9.0. Industryrecommended treatment control limits are 200-300 ppm molybdate as MoO₄²⁻. However, Molybdate inhibitors are not recommended to be used withcalcium levels greater than 500 ppm.

Nitrite is another widely accepted non-chromate closed cooling waterinhibitor. Nitrite concentrations in the range of 600-1200 ppm as NO₂ ⁻will suitably inhibit iron and steel corrosion when the pH is maintainedabove 7.0. Systems containing steel and copper couples require treatmentlevels in the 5000-7000 ppm range. If aluminum is also present, thecorrosion problem is intensified, and a treatment level of 10,000 ppmmay be required. In all cases, the pH of the circulating water should bemaintained in the alkaline range, but below 9.0 when aluminum ispresent. When high nitrite levels are applied, an acid feed may berequired for pH control. One significant drawback to nitrite treatmentsis the fact that nitrites are oxidized by microorganisms. Denitrifyingbacteria can consume the chemical inhibitor, reducing the protection onthe fluid system's conduit and containment surfaces, which can lead tolow inhibitor levels and biological fouling. Slime producing bacteriacan accelerate such fouling. The feed of non-oxidizing antimicrobialsmay be necessary to control nitrite reversion and biological fouling. Inaddition, sulfate reducing bacteria and iron reducing bacteria produceacids that can cause thinning and ultimately holes through the innersurfaces of the walls of pipes, tubes and coils. In view of all of theabove, it is clear that the use of one chemical can create a myriad ofproblems requiring other chemicals to correct. Further, with the strictlimitations of chemical concentrations due to the use of certain metalsin the conduit and containment systems, chemical usage is significantlyinhibited.

As part of the closed loop system, heat exchangers are utilized toremove unwanted heat from an industrial process and typically transferthe thermal energy to a recirculating cooling water stream. Thetemperature of cooling water will be elevated as it absorbs heat fromthe process side, which is then expelled through partial evaporation ofthe water across a cooling tower. Several problems may arise in thisheat transfer process as issues like corrosion, scale, fouling, andmicrobial growth will reduce flow rates and heat transfer rates andlower system efficiency. Heat exchangers are generally of threedifferent designs including: shell and tube, plate and frame, andexposed tube. Chemical treatments to alleviate and remove the associatedproblems noted above have long been used in the industry with mixedresults.

Open recirculating systems provide the most common form of industrialcooling, continually recycling and reusing the same water to coolprocess equipment. In these systems, water, after leaving the coolingtower, is pumped to industrial applications using heat exchangers,condensers, air compressor jackets, or process reactors. In this cycle,the water returning to the cooling tower water has absorbed excess heatfrom the manufacturing process which is then dissipated by spraying thewater through a water cooling tower where partial evaporation takesplace. The cooling tower exposes the heated water to air, causing asmall percentage of the water to evaporate, which removes a substantialamount of heat in the process. The water that doesn't evaporate iscooled and then reused.

Reusing chemically treated cooling water results in not only watersavings, but chemical savings as well, as the chemistries are retainedin the system. However, problems associated with corrosion, deposition,and microbial growths become more severe for several reasons. First, theprocess of evaporation concentrates the amount of dissolved andsuspended solids in the circulating water, leading to corrosion ofconduit and containment surfaces and deposition of materials within theconduit flow stream. Secondly, the warm temperatures in openrecirculating cooling towers results in significant biological growth.Lastly, the operation of a water cooling tower exposes the water to airand as a result airborne contaminants are absorbed that may be the causeof additional corrosion and microbial growth.

For many years the industry has treated these problems with a variety ofchemical treatments as discussed above. Even though cooling towers havea number of designs including natural draft, mechanical, cross flow, andcounter-flow the industry has responded to each of the designs with notless, but more chemical treatments. The chemical treatments are used toincrease heat transfer efficiency by eliminating fouling within heattransfer piping with scale inhibitors by chemically preventing foulingthat results from the precipitation of constituents, the settling ofsuspended matter, and microbial growth. Although, the corrosioninhibitor chemical treatments may reduce maintenance and plant downtimeby keeping metals within the system from losing thickness, which causesystem failures and reduce deposition caused by corrosion, they requirecontinual monitoring and reintroduction as the chemistries are subjectto reaction with the water and containment surfaces and to microbialoxidation. This will result in increased temperature differential in thecooling tower water due to the introduction of biocides to reduce thenumber and growth of microorganisms on cooling tower fill seeking toincrease the splash effect for maximizing the air contact with the waterand increase evaporation rates.

Another type of coolant water treatment is a non-chemical treatment ofwater complex systems. The non-chemical treatment has been the use ofelectric current within and without the conduits carrying the fluidflow. Apparatus for the treatment of moving liquid by causing electriccurrent flow or discharge therein and/or impressing electrically inducedfields there across have been known for many years, but the applicationof such devices to common industrial and residential problems, such aswater system scaling and clogging, has only been met with varyingsuccess. Some installations have appeared to be functional while otherswhich seemed to be operating under generally similar circumstancesobviously failed and no broadly accepted reasons for the differentresults have been advanced. The optimum type, size and characteristicsof a treatment system to produce desired and reliable results in aparticular environment appear to have been unnecessarily limited withrespect to DC voltage imposed on the electrostatic field.

One predictive method for water treatment was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.4,073,712 in which a positively charged, axially placed conduitelectrode insulated by a dielectric material provides an electrostaticfield through the flowing water in the conduit, with a negativelycharged electrode around the conduit, thereby providing a threecapacitor system. This early system was further advanced with thedevices and methods of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,294,137 and 6,652,715 thatincreased the voltage of the electrostatic field to at least 10,000volts dc and up to in excess of 40,000 volts dc with an extremely lowpower of approximately 5 watts. Based upon the experiences of thereversed polarity of the electrodes and the increased voltage range,differing lengths of the electrode within the conduit are selected inthe range of 18 to 36 inches with the particular length dependent uponflow rates, particulate concentration in and polarity of the liquid, thedegree of required particulate non-aggregation or surface adhesion, andother related variables.

As can be seen from the foregoing discussion, a large number of factorsand complex interactions are involved in the treating process to removeboth particulate and biologic material from the liquid cooling stream.This seems logical since such liquid systems are themselves usuallyhighly complex, including variations in dissolved salts, suspendedsolids, turbulence, pH, piping, electrical environment, temperature,pressure, biologic elements, etc. Many liquid clogging mechanisms,including water system scaling, involve the electrostatic relationsbetween suspended particles, the carrier liquid and the walls of thepiping network.

Thus, an electrostatic field effectively developed across a section offlowing water primarily affects not only the water, but mainlysuspended, especially colloidal size, particles immersed in the water.The effect of the field will depend, in large measure, upon therelationship of the natural electrostatic charge on such immersedparticles to the electrostatic charge on the various surfaces of thetreating apparatus and how the latter charge induces a response on theliquid contacting surfaces of the piping network. If relative conditionsare proper, the particles will be urged by the field to remain insuspension or migrate toward a charged electrode isolated from the wallsof the piping network, thus reducing the tendency to form flowrestricting deposits on the inner surface of the conduit. The reductionof colloid particles which are capable of acting as seeds for nucleationof scale building crystal formations results in a reduced tendency forscale deposition.

The natural electrostatic charge on the immersed particles in theliquid, or more accurately, the overall charge effect of the variousgroups of particles normally associated in the same system, can bedetermined by known procedures, but the control of the electrostaticcharge in critical treater surfaces has been heretofore very limited dueto the configuration of the electrodes. One aspect of the presentinvention continues the reversal of the decades old method offabricating conduit electrostatic field treatment devices. This isaccomplished by locating the positive, ground electrode situatedgenerally within the axial space of the conduit at or near a right angleinlet/outlet flow point, where the conduit inner surface serves as thenegatively charged electrode such that the liquid flowing in the conduitbecomes negatively charged for later process advantage. The preciseplacement of the in-flow electrode will be described with greaterparticularity below.

The electrostatic field between particular water treater surfaces, inlarge part, can be predicted and controlled by limiting certainparameters in treater construction and installation including thedielectric constant of the insulating material or materials in contactwith the water, the efficiency of the insulating material or materialsand seals in preventing charge leakage, and the physical size ratio ofthe treater parts which form the surfaces producing the electrostaticfield across the water complex under treatment.

However, the in-flow electrode water treater is only one of severalsub-systems to accomplish the multi-phase treatment of the water systemby the present invention. With the addition of a series of in-flowelectrodes along with the altering of the configuration of the electrodefrom a single pole to a dual pole immersed in the liquid flow enhancesthe electrostatic treatment effect. Also, altering the type of metalused in the electrodes selected for the elimination of biologicmaterials such as bacteria and minute plant life further enhances theelectrostatic treatment effect. Two of these modified electrodes coupledwith a magnetic/ion charging electrode placed within a series ofbio-cells have been determined to substantially, if not completely,eliminate biologic materials from recirculating through the liquid flowsystem.

The dissolved and suspended particulate materials, as well as thebiologic materials, are also passed through a series of filteringvessels that cause the separation of the dissolved and suspended solidsfrom the liquid flow for particles approximating one micron in size orlarger. Each of the filtering vessels creates a flow path that willcreate turbulence in the water such that the particulate material willprecipitate downward due to gravity when blocked by screening materials.The number of filtering vessels that are required is dependent upon theapplication, i.e., the quantity of coolant water flowing past a fixedpoint and the flow rate of the water, with the number usually falling inthe range of from two to six filter vessels being utilized.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide operableand efficient multi-phase water treatment systems including the use ofelectrostatic water treaters and mechanical filtering; to provide suchtreaters which function to predictably inhibit the formation of scalefrom colloidal particles immersed in flowing water; to provide a treaterconstruction which substantially reduces the formation of scale inpiping systems and may function to remove scale already formed; and toprovide a treater construction which substantially reduces biologicmaterials such as bacteria and minute plant life, e.g., algae, slime,etc. contained in the flowing water. It is another object of the presentinvention to cause the precipitation of suspended particles out of thewater complex and to manage any dissolved solids contained therein byreducing the particulate materials contained within the water complex,precipitate such particulate materials for collection, and remove thementirely from contact with the continuing flow of the water complex.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method ofdesigning operable and efficient multi-phase water treatment systems forparticular installations and to provide a method of treating water toreliably inhibit the formation of certain clogging deposits in thepiping system containing the same. It is a further object of the presentinvention to provide a dependable alternative to many types of chemicalwater treatment for water systems and to provide such methods andapparatus which have wide application in improving desired properties ofwater systems for industrial and residential purposes at minimal costand maximum safety.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A water treatment system for the removal of biologic and particulatematerials suspended or retained in a water complex used in a watercooling system is described that is comprised of a pump for circulatingthe water complex through the water treatment system, a conductivitymeter located at the water inlet to the pump for providing a sensormeasurement of the electrical conductivity of the water complex, aplurality of at least two ionizer cells of two differing types—a seriesof mechanical precipitators, a high voltage low wattage electrodesituated in close proximity to the mechanical precipitators and aprogram logic controller to control the timing of the water treatmentsystem components. The ionizers each contain a unique electrode for usein the substantial elimination of biologic materials in the form ofaerobic and anaerobic organisms that are in solution in the watercomplex, control the regrowth of surface growing algae and slime, andimpart a surface charge to any clump, coagulate or colloidal particulateor solid material. The resulting surface charge on the particulate orsolid material results in particles in the range of 1-5 micronsattracting one another so that such particles combine together resultingin particles of larger size. The series of mechanical precipitatorsthrough a tortuous pathway increase the relative time that the watercomplex remains within the precipitator, i.e., retention time, such thatthe particles of larger size can precipitate out of the water complexfor later disposal. The high voltage low wattage electrode is situatedin close proximity to the mechanical filters to negatively charge thewater complex. The negative charging creates a breakdown in the laminarboundary along the inner surfaces of the conduits along one or moreconduits in the water cooling system in contact with the water complexsuch that the continuing flow will dislodge and remove scale, slime, andsome corrosion from the conduit surfaces. The program logic controllercontrols the timing of the water treatment system by turning on and offthe circulating pump, the ionizer electrodes, the high voltageelectrode, and controlling the voltages applied to the severalelectrodes of the various elements of the water treatment system. Theprogram logic controller also controls the associated valving for eachcomponent for controlling the flow of the water complex through theionizers and the mechanical precipitators based upon the conductivitymeasurement of the water complex inflow provided by the conductivitymeter. In this manner the water complex is cleansed of biologic andparticulate matter, either in suspension of residing on conduit orvessel surfaces, increasing the thermal conductivity of the watercomplex and reducing overall water usage without need for chemicaladditives.

In order to more efficiently accomplish its function, the first ionizeris comprised of a containment vessel that houses a first dual-spacedapart electrode structure extending into the flow path of the watercomplex within the vessel with each of the dual electrodes being oftitanium such that, when such dual electrodes are energized under theregulation of the programmable logic controller with either the same orreverse polarity dc voltage, the dual electrodes drive free H₂ and O₂from the water complex depriving the water complex of those chemicalsresulting in the substantial elimination of most aerobic and anaerobicorganisms that are in solution in the water complex for the lack of saidchemicals. In order to maintain minimal amounts of aerobic and anaerobicorganisms, the first ionizer is maintained in a continually chargedstate.

The second ionizer has a single electrode structure with said electrodemade of a series of high-intensity electro-magnets positioned withspacing and opposing polarity positioning maintained along the entirelength of the electrode by non-conducting spacers and positioners withina non-conducting elongate tube. The electro-magnets impart a surfacecharge to any clump, coagulate or colloidal particulate matter makingparticles in the range of 1-5 microns attract other particles ofsimilar, smaller or larger size to combine together making particles ofstill larger sizes. The second ionizer is continually charged to createparticles of sizes that can be mechanically precipitated out of thewater complex.

One or more additional ionizers positioned between the first and secondionizers and each housing a dual electrode structure extending into theflow path of the water complex with each electrode made of titanium. Asabove, when energized under the regulation of the programmable logiccontroller with either the same or reverse polarity dc voltage, theelectrodes will drive free H₂ and O₂ from the water complex deprivingthe water complex of those chemicals that will substantially eliminatemost aerobic and anaerobic organisms that are in solution in the watercomplex for the lack of said chemicals.

A third type of ionizer may be positioned between the first and secondionizers also houses a dual electrode structure extending into the flowpath of the water complex with each electrode made of a copper/silveralloy, where copper makes up 99% and silver makes up 1% of the alloymaterial. The copper/silver alloy material is utilized to substantiallyeliminate and control the regrowth of surface growing algae and slime bythe erosion of the copper component of the copper/silver alloy. When theelectrodes are energized under the regulation of the programmable logiccontroller, the copper component of the copper/silver alloy erodes andis discharged into the water complex at a concentration rate of 0.1-0.3ppm remaining in solution in said water complex for a time period ofapproximately one hour, during said time period and thereafter theeroded copper will bond with calcium in the water complex becoming aparticulate solid that will precipitate out of solution to be removedfrom the water complex by mechanical filtering of the particulate solid.However, this electrode is not required to be charged continually. Theelectrode of the third type of ionizer is energized 3-4 times daily,where such duty cycle usually occurs once every four hours duringdaylight hours.

The mechanical precipitator is comprised of a plurality of suchmechanical precipitators, i.e., static mixers to create a water complexretention period, connected in series to cause the precipitation ofparticles of larger size out of the water complex for disposal. Each ofthe plurality of static mixers comprises a containment vessel having aninlet permitting the water complex to flow into and downward through anouter cylindrical chamber surrounding a central cylindrical chamber andinto a central cylindrical chamber creating a vortex having an upwardflow toward a static mixer. The static mixer blocks the free passage ofthe water complex by interposing a plurality of screens located at theentrance and exit to the static mixer that, along with a stainless steelmesh housed within the static mixer, allows only the water complex toflow through creating a retention time within the static mixer beforethe flow can exit through the outlet. Suspended particulate materialsare temporarily retained within and below the static mixer in thecentral cylindrical chamber. The static mixer returns the particulatematerials to the vortex and to the sides of the central chamber suchthat the particles will precipitate by gravity down the centralcylindrical chamber walls to the bottom of the filter and through aplurality of holes to be collected in a trap for later disposal.

The water treatment system also includes a high voltage electrode thatis centrally axially positioned within a conduit of the water treatmentsystem in close proximity to the mechanical precipitators for negativelycharging the water complex. The negative charging of the water complexresults in a breakdown in the laminar boundary at the inner surfaces ofthe conduits in contact with the with the water complex which, in turn,removes scale, slime, and corrosion from the conduit surfaces. Theremoval of scale, slime and corrosion along the conduit and vessel wallsincreases the effective cooling and expected thermal exchange of thewater cooling system.

The water treatment system may include a bromine feeder that injects achemical oxidizer into the water complex to substantially eliminate allorganic materials. The bromine feeder is isolated by a pair of valvesthat are opened when the chemical oxidizer is utilized in addition or asa substitution to the several ionizers, particularly the third typeionizer.

The water treatment system may also include a solid chemical corrosioninhibitor utilizing a non-toxic organic corrosion inhibitor that isdispensed from a solid chemical feeder and added to the water complex.The solid chemical corrosion inhibitor is isolated by a chemical pumpthat is operated when the solid chemical additive becomes required toreduce corrosion levels in the conduits and containment vessels of thecooling system when make-up water is added to the water cooling system.

The water treatment system also includes a backflush function which willoccur under the regulation of the programmable logic controller, uponthe sensing by the conductivity meter of an increased electricalconductivity in the water complex, by altering the direction of flow ofthe water complex through a diverting valve and entering through anupper portion of the mechanical precipitators by reversing the normalflow permitting the particulate material precipitated out of the watercomplex and collected in the trap to be flushed away through a drainvalve. The water complex conductivity measurement is programmaticallytimed through the program controller, but may also be manually triggeredas needed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in thedrawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood,however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangementsand instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the various elements andinterconnections of the non-chemical water treatment apparatus of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one of the bio-cell filters of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a dual electrode insert into a bio-cell of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a magnetic ion electrode insert into a bio-cellof the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of one of the particulate filters of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the various elements andinterconnections of the non-chemical water treatment system of thepresent invention applied to a cooling tower and condenser series of abuilding air cooling system.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the high voltage electrode placed in any one ofthe condenser feed lines.

FIG. 8A is a perspective cutaway view of the high voltage electrode ofFIG. 7 placed at the inlet elbow of a condenser feed line.

FIG. 8B is a plan view of the high voltage electrode of FIG. 7 placed ina parallel side stream reaction vessel alongside a water column to betreated.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the various elements andinterconnections of a second embodiment of the non-chemical watertreatment apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of one of the particulate filters of the secondembodiment of the non-chemical water treatment apparatus of the presentinvention.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the static mixer positioned within theparticulate filter of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplatedmode of carrying out the invention. The description is not intended in alimiting sense, and is made solely for the purpose of illustrating thegeneral principles of the invention. The various features and advantagesof the present invention may be more readily understood with referenceto the following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, where like numerals refer tolike parts or elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 the water treatmentsystem 10 of the present invention. The water treatment system 10 isconnected into a water complex heat transfer system by master inletvalve 12 and master outlet valve 14. In order to record the amount ofwater passing through the water treatment system 10, an inlet flow meter16 is placed in the inlet water line. The incoming water complex is alsomeasured for conductivity by a conductivity meter 17 that may be a partof the water treatment system 10 or obtained from an existingconductivity meter already a part of the water complex heat transfersystem.

Conductivity is used to measure the concentration of dissolved solids inthe incoming water complex, which dissolved solids have been ionized inthe water complex by travelling through the side-stream particleprecipitator apparatus 10 at least once. Specific Conductance (SC) is ameasure of how well water can conduct an electrical current.Conductivity will increase with an increasing number and mobility ofions present in the water solution. These ions, which come from thebreakdown of compounds, conduct electricity because they are negativelyor positively charged when dissolved in water.

The electrical conductivity meter (EC meter) 17 measures the electricalconductivity of the water complex in solution. EC meters are commonlyused in hydroponics, aquaculture and freshwater systems to monitor theamount of nutrients, salts or impurities in the water. Industrialconductivity probes often employ an inductive method of measurement,which has the advantage that the fluid does not wet the electrical partsof the sensor. Two inductively-coupled coils are used. One is thedriving coil producing a magnetic field and it is supplied with anaccurately-known voltage. The other inductor forms a secondary coil of atransformer. The liquid passing through a channel in the sensor formsone turn in the secondary winding of the transformer. The inducedcurrent between the first and second inductors is the output measurementof the sensor.

Over a limited temperature range, the way temperature effects theconductivity of a solution can be modeled linearly using the followingformula:σT=σT _(cal)[1+(αT−T _(cal))]where

T is the temperature of the sample,

T_(cal) is the calibration temperature,

σT is the electrical conductivity at the temperature T,

σT_(cal) is the electrical conductivity at the calibration temperatureT_(cal),

α is the temperature compensation slope of the solution.

The temperature compensation slope for most naturally occurring watersis about 2%/° C., however it can range between 1% and 3%/° C.

After the initial measurements, the water complex is pumped into thewater treatment system 10 by circulating pump 18. A divergent pathway isselected for the water complex depending upon the treatment protocoldesired. Diverging flow valve 20 directs the water complex flow toeither the ionizers 50 or to the particulate precipitators 80, both tobe described in more detail below. The entire side-stream particleprecipitator water treatment system 10 is controlled by a programmablelogic controller, PLC, that coordinates and regulates the water complexflow direction and flow rate through the water treatment system 10.

The PLC also controls the High Voltage power supplies, HV1, HV2, tofurnish the appropriate voltage to the electrodes for appropriatetreatment of the water complex. HV1 and HV2 control the electricityapplied to electrodes within the flow of the water complex movingthrough the water treatment system 10. A positive dc voltage having arange of between 20 kv and 30 kv acts as a capacitor in the moving watercomplex that will collapse laminar boundaries in the fluid. The positivehigh voltage, low wattage charge also will improve thermal transferacross various heat exchanger surfaces. The high voltage power suppliesHV1, HV2 will modulate the voltage in response to sensed conductivity inthe water complex. A protective circuit creates an alarm condition andautomatic shutdown if a high micro-ampere set point is reached. The highvoltage, low amperage electrodes impart a net negative charge ondissolved solids contained in the water complex holding them insuspension in the moving flow. Negatively charged piping and conduitinternal surfaces repel such negatively charged solids keeping them fromlodging at joints and on other surfaces within the thermal exchangefluid flow containment system for maintaining maximum flow rate withoutinternal surface buildup of unwanted particulates. The placement of thehigh voltage electrodes will be described more fully below.

The ionizers 50 consist of a series of containment vessels connected ina series array, each with a different purpose. All of the ionizervessels 50 are structurally the same and reference can be made to FIG. 2for showing such structure. The ionizer vessels 50 all have an inlet 52and an outlet 54. A containment vessel 56 makes up the major componentof the ionizer 50. Special electrodes 58, 60 are positioned inside thecontainment vessel 56 extending through the top using appropriatefittings for fixedly mounting the electrodes 58, 60 to the ionizer 50without leakage. Each of the ionizers 50 can have a different electrode58, 60 placed therein and the total number of ionizers 50 can be varieddepending upon the total volume of water that is to be filtered with aminimum number of ionizers being at least two such ionizers.

The first ionizer 50A has an electrode having the structure of electrode58 shown in FIG. 3. The dual electrode 58 extends into the containmentvessel 56 and is held in position by the connector 64 that can bethreadedly fitted through the top of the containment vessel 56 orsecured in any other manner such that the dual electrodes 70, 72 extenddownward into the flow path of the water complex. The electrodes 70, 72are fixedly positioned on the bottom of the connector 64 with theirrespective wiring extending upward through the connector 64 and througha cap 62 to be connected to the controlled voltage wiring from a voltagesupply for supplying dc voltage in the range of 5-24 Vdc. The voltageand polarity are controlled as to voltage level and timing of voltagesupply and polarity reversal by the PLC.

The dual electrodes of electrode 58 are made of titanium that, whencharged, drive hydrogen and oxygen from the water complex. The PLCcreates a polarity change between the two electrodes of ionizer 50A byusing a current reversal effect every 90 seconds. This will reduce thebuoyancy of the water complex as the H₂ and O₂ are driven out ofsolution. The effect of depriving the water complex of free H₂ and O₂will kill most aerobic and anaerobic organisms that are in solution inthe water complex creating a solid precipitate for later filtering.Titanium is selected for its lightness of weight and resistance todestruction in the water complex solution. This electrode is poweredcontinually by the PLC for proper treatment of the water complex.Additional ionizers, represented as 50B in FIG. 1, of similarconstruction may be added between the first and second ionizers, 50A and50C, in the event that the total volume of the water complex requiresadditional ionization treatment.

The second ionizer 50C has a different kind of electrode placed thereinthat directs its electromagnetic properties against particulate solids.With reference to FIG. 4, the electrode 60 is used to precipitatesuspended solids in solution in the water complex of various sizes downto one micron in size. The electrode 60 has a series of high-intensityelectro-magnets 66 positioned with reversing polarities along the lengthof a tube made of polyvinylflouride, a non-conducting polymer. The tubeis capped at the bottom and has a similar connector 64 for insertion andfixed connection to the ionizer creating an insulative layer between thewater complex and the electro-magnets 66. The positioning of thehigh-intensity electro-magnets 66 is accomplished by using non-magneticconductors, e.g., wood, so that the spacing and polarity positioning(indicated by P for positive and N for negative) is maintained along theentire length of the electrode 60. The polarity of each successiveelectro-magnet 66 is reversed as the stack goes from the bottom to thetop of the electrode. The electro-magnets 66 impart a surface charge toany clump, coagulate or colloidal particulate matter making particles inthe range of 1-5 microns attract other particles to combine togethermaking particles of much larger size. The larger particles can then bemechanically filtered out increasing the thermal conductivity of thewater complex.

The third ionizer 50B, as shown in FIG. 1, will also have an electrodeof the same structure shown in FIG. 3, if a second electrode of the sametype is required for either total treated volume of the water complex,or a different type of electrode is required for precipitation ofdifferent dissolved solids. Thus, the ionizer 50B may be of the sametype and structure as described for ionizer 50A. It may also contain adifferent type of electrode materials that may be utilized to achieve adifferent purpose.

For the different type ionizer 50B, the dual electrodes 70, 72 are madeof a copper/silver alloy, where copper makes up 99% and silver makes up1% of the alloy material. The copper/silver alloy material is utilizedto effectively kill and control the regrowth of surface growing algaeand slime in cooling tower systems. The copper is discharged into thewater complex at a concentration rate of 0.1-0.3 ppm which will remainfor approximately one hour in solution in the water complex. During thathour and thereafter the copper will bond with calcium in the water,become a particulate solid and precipitate out of the solution and beremoved by the filtering to be described below. The water complex, ifnecessary, will be dosed with the copper 3-4 times daily where suchcycle usually occurs once every four hours during daylight hours.Therefore, the ionizers 50A and 50B are constructed to target livingorganisms and plant life that will be rendered inert by the ionizationand remain in the water complex solution as dissolved solids.

After completing treatment in each of the plurality of at least twoionizers 50 the water complex is presented to a series of mechanicalvortex precipitators 80 such as the one shown in FIG. 5. Theprecipitators 80 are arranged in a parallel array with the fluid inletsat the bottom and the fluid outlets at the top. The inlet for eachprecipitator 80 enters an outer cylindrical chamber 82 extending thelength of the precipitator and having a spacing of in the range of ½ to1 inch. The water complex is forced downward and into a centralcylindrical chamber 54 of an approximate 6 inch diameter creating avortex having an upward flow toward a perforated inverted cone 83 thatwill create an extended time for the water complex to flow through theperforations in the inverted cone 83 due to the limited number ofperforations. The perforations are arrayed around the periphery of thecone 83 along its inverted edge and are approximately ⅛ inch indiameter. This mechanical arrangement provides a certain retention timeand reduced flow of the water complex in the precipitator 80. Theincreased retention or delay time, in turn, allows the charged particlesin the water complex to attract each other, to coagulate or agglomerate,and precipitate downward such that only a limited number of particlesare returned to the flowing water complex. The coagulated oragglomerated particulate materials, i.e., dissolved solids that areeither organic or inorganic in nature, are heavier and are returned tothe vortex and eventually find their way to the sides of the centralchamber 84 and precipitate downward along the walls to the bottom of theprecipitator 80 and through a series of holes 85 to be collected in atrap 86 for later disposal during a system flush. The mechanical vortexprecipitators 80 remove a substantial amount of suspended solids fromthe water complex and pass the filtered water complex along through thefilter outlets to be returned to the cooling system through masteroutlet valve 14.

Also included, on an as necessary basis, is a bromine feeder 26 thatinjects a chemical oxidizer to kill all organic material in the watercomplex. The bromine feeder is isolated by a pair of valves 22, 24 thatare opened when the bromine additive becomes necessary, but only as abackup to the several ionizers 50. When required, the bromine feederbecomes active under PLC control only once per day for a 15-20 minuteshock chemical treatment. Otherwise, the valves 22, 24 remain closed andthe water complex bypasses the bromine feeder 26.

When make-up water is called for, a municipal water inlet is utilized tosupply the make-up water. A solid chemical corrosion inhibitor utilizinga preferred non-toxic organic corrosion inhibitor, e.g.,organo-phosphate, is dispensed in solid form from a solid chemicalfeeder 28 and may be added to the fluid flow when required under controlof the PLC. The solid chemical inhibitor is isolated by a chemical pump30 that is operated when the solid chemical additive becomes required toreduce the corrosion level in the pipes and containment vessels of theopen-loop cooling system when the make-up water is added to the system.

The side-stream particle precipitator water treatment system 10 is shownas an added element of a larger cooling system as depicted in FIG. 6.The inlet water complex to the water treatment system 10 is collectedfrom along the bottom of the conduit carrying the water complex betweena cooling tower and a series of condensers utilized for thermalexchange. After being treated, the water complex is added back to thefluid flow between the cooling tower and the condensers by replacing thewater complex into the fluid flow along the top of the same conduit.Part of the continuing water treatment is the use of high voltageelectrodes E1-E8 that are positioned in each of the condenser 1-8 fluidinlets.

The high voltage, low amperage electrodes, i.e., those shown as E1-E8,are structured as shown in FIG. 7. Each high voltage electrode E1-E8,represented as electrode 90, has a single electrode 92 contained withina tube 94 that has a cap 95 at the bottom and electrically connected atthe top of the tube by passing a wire through a connector 96 and a cap98. The electrode 90, as are each of the electrodes E1-E8, iselectrically connected to HV1 or HV2 by the connector 97 and controlledby the PLC.

A view of the electrode 90 centrally axially positioned within the fluidinlet elbow of any of the condensers is shown in FIG. 8A. An alternateflow-path is shown in FIG. 8B in which diverting valves 102, 104 areopened and valve 106 is closed to divert the water complex into aparallel chamber for treatment by the centrally axially positioned highvoltage electrode 90. In this way the negatively charged fluid creates abreakdown in the laminar boundary at the inner surfaces of the conduitsin contact with the fluid. This, in turn, removes scale, slime, and somecorrosion from the conduit surfaces. Without the electrodes 90 creatinga negatively charged fluid, the “quiet zone” adjacent the conduit wallswould remain statically charged and scale, slime and corrosion wouldcollect reducing thermal exchange and reducing fluid flow necessary foreffective cooling and expected thermal exchange for the cooling system.

The purpose of the water treatment system 10, augmented by the severalcondenser located electrodes 90 (E1-E8), is to save water usage andreduce the energy consumption to effectively operate the cooling systemfor its intended purposes. The water treatment system 10 effectivelyincreases the efficiency of the cooling system through increased thermalconductivity by the removal of organic materials (organisms and plantlife) and reducing particulate materials and dissolved solids within thefluid flow and conduit and containment vessels. This is accomplished bythe described electrical charging and mechanical filtering of the watercomplex described above without the necessity of adding significantamounts of chemicals to the system. The electrical charging of the watercomplex also has the effect of dispersing the dissolved solids withinthe water complex to enhance thermal conductivity.

One example of whether the water treatment apparatus of the presentinvention makes a definitive difference in reducing particulate matter,e.g., suspended solids in the water complex, is the testing of coolingtower water for particle reduction. Testing is accomplished by utilizingan electro-optical particle analyzer to determine whether reduction ofsuspended particles occurs subsequent to the introduction of the watertreatment apparatus. The electro-optical particle analyzer used employeda light scattering principle of operation in a dilute ratio 1:800 withfiltered water and particle data correction. Stirring of the water wascontinuous. The testing was done over a three month period with abaseline analysis and a subsequent three month analysis tabulated infour cooling tower systems by sampling the cooling tower basin water.The following TABLE 1 shows significant reduction in both particulatematerial and suspended solids.

TABLE 1 Particle/Solids Suspended in Water Complex Analysis Site 1 Site2 Site 3 Site 4 Size Baseline Treatment Baseline Treatment BaselineTreatment Baseline Treatment (microns) Sample Sample Sample SampleSample Sample Sample Sample Particle Counts per 100 ml 1-3 8,352,320835,508 167,046,400 633,057 40,222,400 994,644 6,021,040 276,928 3-51,568,520 23,090 31,370,400 22,860 2,073,600 220,904 2,053,640 23,224 5-10 1,708,520 48,440 34,170,400 9,189 1,454,000 243,224 3,079,64036,064 10-15 572,480 18,706 11,449,600 1,642 484,000 57,648 1,151,72016,040 15-25 776,640 6,570 15,532,800 2,612 580,800 72,788 1,456,64031,060 Over 25 431,680 5,648 8,633,600 3,635 279,200 27,708 473,60035,092 Solids per 100 Liters of System Volume (mm³) 1-5 167.20 8.163,344.08 6.53 454.50 22.10 179.60 3.70  5-10 721.00 20.44 14,419.91 3.88613.60 102.64 1,299.60 15.20 Over 10 295,516.85 3,839.93 5,910,337.072,456.00 191,783.20 19,155.80 329,153.10 23,760.50The significant reduction of particulate and solids material across allfour sites having different conduit and vessel arrangements is clearlysignificant in showing that the water treatment system of the presentinvention operates to significantly reduce suspended solids.

TABLE 2 Comparison of Treated Water Complex for in Suspension SolidsSite 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4 Baseline Treatment Baseline TreatmentBaseline Treatment Baseline Treatment Sample Sample Sample Sample SampleSample Sample Sample ppm 2964 39 59281 25 1929 193 3306 238As one can see from TABLE 2, the significant reduction in suspendedsolids in parts per million is readily apparent. The operation of thewater treatment system of the present invention, without the use ofchemicals, significantly reduces the presence of suspended solids andother particulate materials in cooling systems with only the uniqueelectrical charging of the water complex and the use of electric andelectro-magnetic fields to control bio-materials and filter them out ofthe water complex.

When required based upon the sensor signal from the conductivity meter17, a flush of the water treatment system 10 is accomplished bydiverting the fluid through the diverting valve 20 by reversing fluidflow through the precipitators 80 and opening valve 32 to permit theparticulate material precipitated out of the water complex and collectedin the precipitators trap 86 to be flushed away along with anyparticulate material and dissolved solids in the water complex to beflushed through master drain valve 34. A flow meter 36 tracks theflushed fluid to track water usage.

The water treatment system 10 of the present invention requires a lesserquantity of water to create a clean environment in the cooling systemconduits and vessels due to the reuse of cleaned water from its ionizerand mechanical vortex precipitating of particulate material anddissolved solids out of the water complex. Since the present watertreatment system principally utilizes electrical sources to controldissolved solids within the water complex it, therefore, usessignificantly lesser amounts of chemicals. There is a resultingsignificant decrease in chemical disposal as well as any chemicalby-products creating corrosion or build-up problems within the coolingsystem. The use of the electrodes effectively increases the thermalconductivity of the water complex through the breakdown and eliminationof organic and inorganic matter and the mechanical filtering removes theparticulate materials that have been coagulated together by theelectro-magnetic electrode of the precipitators through precipitation ofthe coagulated or agglomerated solids and their collection in the trap.Taken together with the high voltage electrodes positioned in thecondenser conduits, the water treatment system reduces corrosion withinthe conduits and vessel surfaces by breaking down the laminar layers atthe conduit and vessel surfaces, as well as by not introducing as greata quantity of chemicals that breakdown and recombine to create corrosiveeffects on the metal surfaces of the conduits and vessels in the coolingsystem.

A second embodiment of the water treatment system 110 of the presentinvention is shown in FIG. 9. The water treatment system 110 isconnected into a water complex heat transfer system by manual inletvalve 112 and manual outlet valve 114. In order to monitor theconductivity of the water passing through the water treatment system110, a conductivity meter 115 is placed in the inlet water line. Thewater complex received through the manual inlet valve 112 is pumped intothe water treatment system 110 by circulating pump 118. A divergentpathway is selected for the water complex depending upon the treatmentprotocol desired. Diverging flow valve 120 directs the water complexflow to either the ionizers 150 or to the particulate filters 180, bothto be described in more detail below. The entire water treatment system110 is controlled by a programmable logic controller, PLC, whichcoordinates and regulates the water complex flow direction and flow ratethrough the water treatment system 110.

The PLC also controls the High Voltage power supply, HV, to furnish anappropriate voltage level to the electrode 90 for treatment of the watercomplex. HV controls the electricity applied to the electrode within theflow of the water complex moving through the water treatment system 110.A positive dc voltage having a range of between 20 kv and 30 kv acts asa capacitor in the moving water complex that causes the collapse oflaminar boundaries in the fluid. The positive high voltage, low wattagecharge also will improve thermal transfer across various heat exchangersurfaces. The high voltage power supply HV will modulate the voltage inresponse to sensed conductivity in the water complex. A protectivecircuit creates an alarm condition and automatic shutdown if a highmicro-ampere set point is reached. The high voltage, low amperageelectrode imparts a net negative charge on dissolved solids contained inthe water complex holding them in suspension in the moving flow.Negatively charged piping and conduit internal surfaces repel suchnegatively charged solids keeping them from lodging at joints and onother surfaces within the thermal exchange fluid flow containment systemfor maintaining maximum flow rate without internal surface buildup ofunwanted particulates. The placement of the high voltage electrode 90will be described more fully below.

The ionizers 150 consist of a plurality of containment vessels connectedin a series array, each with a different purpose. All of the ionizers150 are structurally the same and reference can be made to FIG. 2 forshowing such basic structure. The ionizers 150, similar to ionizers 50,each have an inlet 52 and an outlet 54. A containment vessel 56 makes upthe major component of the ionizer 150. Special electrodes 58, 60 arepositioned inside the containment vessel 56 extending through the sealedtop using appropriate fittings for fixedly mounting the electrodes 58,60 to the ionizers 150 without leakage. Each of the ionizers 150 has adifferent electrode 58, 60 placed therein.

The first ionizer 150A has an electrode having the structure ofelectrode 58 shown in FIG. 3. As described in connection with the firstembodiment, the dual electrode 58 extends into the containment vessel 56and is held in position by the connector 64 that can be threadedlyfitted through the top of the containment vessel 56 or secured in anyother manner such that the dual electrodes 70, 72 extend downward intothe flow path of the water complex. The electrodes 70, 72 are fixedlypositioned on the bottom of the connector 64 with their respectivewiring extending upward through the connector 64 and through a cap 62 tobe connected to the controlled voltage wiring from a voltage supply forsupplying dc voltage in range of 5-24 vdc controlled as to voltage leveland pulsed timing of voltage supply by the PLC.

The dual electrodes of electrode 58 are made of titanium that, whencharged, drive hydrogen and oxygen from the water complex. The PLCcreates a polarity change between the two electrodes of electrode 58 ofionizer 150A by using a current reversal effect. This will reduce thebuoyancy of the water complex as the H₂ and O₂ are driven out ofsolution. The effect of depriving the water complex of free H₂ and O₂will kill most aerobic and anaerobic organisms that are in solution inthe water complex. Titanium is selected as the material for theelectrodes 70, 72 for its lightness of weight and resistance todestruction in the water complex solution. The electrode 58 iscontinually powered for proper treatment of the water complex.

The second ionizer 150C houses an electrode 60 that directs its magneticproperties against particulate solids. The electrode 60 is used toprecipitate suspended solids in solution in the water complex of varioussizes down to one micron in size. With reference to FIG. 4 the electrode60 has a series of high-intensity magnets 66 with reversing polaritiesarrayed along the interior length of a tube made of polyvinylflouride, anon-conducting polymer. Although previously described as high-intensityelectro-magnets 66, high-intensity permanent magnets can be substitutedwith the same effect. Both magnet types will be referred to by the sameidentifier 66. The magnet containment tube is capped at the bottom andhas a similar connector 64 for insertion and fixed connection to theionizer 150C creating an insulative layer between the water complex andthe magnets 66. The positioning of the high-intensity magnets 66 isaccomplished by using non-magnetic conductors, e.g., wood, so that thespacing and polarity positioning (indicated by P for positive and N fornegative) is maintained along the entire length of the electrode 60. Thepolarity of each successive magnet 66 is reversed as the stack goes fromthe bottom to the top of the electrode. The magnets 66 impart a surfacecharge to any clump, coagulate or colloidal particulate matter makingparticles in the range of 1-5 microns attract other particles to combinetogether making particles of much larger size. The larger particles canthen be mechanically filtered out increasing the thermal conductivity ofthe water complex. Additional ionizers 150 may be added, as required,for larger volumes of a water complex to be treated.

After completing treatment in the ionizers 150 the water complex flowsto a series of particle precipitate filters 180 such as the ones shownin FIG. 10. The filters 180 are arranged in a parallel array with thefluid inlet 181 at a point lower than the fluid outlet 183 located nearthe top of the filters 180. With Reference to FIG. 10, the water entersthrough the inlet 181 for each filter 180 entering an outer cylindricalchamber 182 that forces the fluid down and into a central cylindricalchamber 184 creating a vortex and slowing the flow of the water complex.The central cylindrical chamber 184 has an upward flow toward a staticmixer 187 mounted to the topmost portion of the chamber 184 andextending approximately one-half the distance to the bottom of thechamber 184. The slower upward flow of the water complex within thechamber 184 and into the static mixer 187 permits a mostly fluid flowinto the static mixer 187 returning particulate materials suspendedwithin the water complex to the vortex in the chamber 184 below. Theparticulate matter suspended in the vortex eventually finds its way tothe sides of the central chamber 184 and precipitates down the walls tothe bottom of each filter 180 to be collected in a trap 186 for laterdisposal during a system flush or purge.

The static mixer 187 includes top and bottom screens 185 a, 185 b ateither end of a vertically oriented open cylinder. The lower screen 185a has small diameter apertures that do not permit passage of largeagglomerated particulate material on the order of approximately 200-250microns. The upper screen 185 b has smaller diameter apertures thatfurther restricts the passage of agglomerated particulate materiallarger than approximately 200-250 microns. Also housed within the staticmixer 187 is a stainless steel mesh 189 that is folded over itselfacross the open cylindrical space within the static mixer 187 occupyingthe vertical space between the upper and lower screens 185 a, 185 b. Themesh 189 creates a mixing effect to further slow the flow and reduceturbidity in the water complex by allowing the particulate materials tofall back through the lower screen 185 a and be collected in the trap186 of the filter 180. The particle precipitate filters 180 are utilizedto remove the suspended solids already in suspension in the watercomplex and any additional particulate materials created by theionization of suspended particles in the water complex by the ionizers150 by reducing the flow rate of the water complex through the internalstructure of the filters 180 and then passing the water complex alongthrough the filter outlets 183 to be returned to the cooling systemthrough manual outlet valve 114. The water complex that is leaving thefilters 180 is elevated above the collected solids that were suspendedin the water complex so that the returning coolant water does not comeinto contact with those collected precipitated solids that have settledto the bottom of the filters 180 into the traps 186.

In the second embodiment, the high voltage electrode 90 is positioned inproximity to the particle precipitate filters 180. As in the firstembodiment, part of the continuing water treatment is the use of highvoltage, low amperage electrodes that are structured as shown in FIG. 7where the inlet water flow approaches the electrode 90 as shown in FIG.8A. In the case of the second embodiment, the high voltage electrode 90has a single electrode 92 contained within a tube 94 that has a cap 95at the bottom and electrically connected at the top of the tube bypassing a wire through a connector 96 and a cap 98. The electrode 90 iselectrically connected to HV by the connector 97 and controlled by thePLC in the same manner as described above. The negatively charged watercomplex creates a breakdown in the laminar boundary at the innersurfaces of any the conduit that comes into contact with the fluid.This, in turn, removes scale, slime, and some corrosion from the conduitsurfaces. Without the electrode 90 creating a negatively charged fluid,the “quiet zone” adjacent the conduit walls would remain staticallycharged and scale, slime and corrosion would collect, or continue tocollect, reducing the thermal exchange and reducing fluid flow necessaryfor effective cooling and expected thermal exchange for the coolingsystem. After the water complex is further conditioned by the impressingof a negative charge on the water, the flow is returned to the maincoolant recycling system.

In the event that the PLC senses that the water conductivity, asdetected by the conductivity sensor 115 located on the water inlet line,exceeds a predetermined value, the PLC commands control valve 120 todivert incoming water away from the ionizers 150 and directly to themechanical precipitators 180, but in a reverse direction, with the waterentering through the outlets 183. Substantially simultaneously to PLCalso commands valve 134 to open which permits the water to flow throughthe traps 186 at the bottom of the precipitators 180 carrying thecollected precipitated solids out of the water treatment system 110 to adrain. When conductivity of the water complex returns to an acceptedpredetermined value, valves 120 and 134 are returned to their normalpositions by the PLC allowing the water complex to return to itstreatment path through the ionizers 150 and precipitate filters 180exiting through the outlets 183 and proceeding to pass by the electrode90 to return to the main coolant recycling system. This method of usingthe incoming water complex to carry away the collected precipitatedsolids from the precipitator traps 186 saves water versus a completepurge or back flush. Alternatively, a system back flush can occur byclosing valve 133, opening valve 134, and diverting the normal waterflow through valve 120 directly to the outlets 183 of the precipitators180 under manual or PLC control. This creates a water flow path downwardthrough the filters 180, out the traps 186 and to the drain carryingaway the precipitated solids and cleansing the interiors of the filters180. When a back flush of the water treatment system is completed, thevales 120, 133 and 134 are returned to their normal states. When make-upwater is called for, a municipal water inlet is utilized to supply themake-up water that is added to the coolant system and monitored by thewater treatment system by flow meter 116 that provides the flow datadirectly to the PLC. Additionally, as in the case of the firstembodiment, chemical treatment of the water complex can be controlledthrough the PLC, if required, by introducing a chemical oxidizer and/orcorrosion inhibitor into the water complex.

The PLC may be controlled locally, or may be monitored and controlledfrom a distant location through a wired or wireless communications link.A modem 140 is connected to the PLC such that the control functions canbe monitored from other locations either within the building complex forwhich the cooling system is operating or from a more distant locationthrough connection over the Internet. The modem may have a wiredconnection, or a wireless connection through an antenna 142. Thewireless connection may be an IEEE 802.11x standard Wi-Fi [WLAN] of theA, B, G or N-type, or an rf radio signal for VHF or UHF directconnection to a companion station. Therefore, monitoring and controlover the water treatment system 110 may be local or from a distantlocation.

The water treatment system or side-stream particle precipitator 110 isan added filtering apparatus of a larger cooling system, for example, asdepicted in FIG. 6. The inlet water complex to the water treatmentsystem 110 is collected from along the bottom of the conduit carryingthe water complex between a cooling tower and a series of condensersutilized for thermal exchange. After being treated, the water complex isadded back to the fluid flow between the cooling tower and thecondensers by replacing the water complex into the fluid flow along thetop of the same conduit.

The purpose of the water treatment system 110, similar to watertreatment system 10, is to reduce water usage and energy consumptionneeded to effectively operate the cooling system for its intendedpurposes. The water treatment system 110 effectively increases theefficiency of the cooling system through increased thermal conductivityby the removal of organic materials (organisms and plant life) andreducing particulate materials within the fluid flow and conduit andcontainment vessels by reducing the fluid flow through the particulatefilters 180 after the water complex has been appropriated charged toionize the particulate materials suspended in the water complex so thatsuch materials will attract, agglomerate and be precipitated forcollection and disposal. This is accomplished by the describedelectrical charging and mechanical filtering of the water complexdescribed above without the necessity of adding chemicals to theside-stream particle precipitator or water treatment system 110 of thepresent invention.

Maintenance of the water treatment systems 10, 110 is also reduced bythe longer life of the electrodes in the ionizers 50, 150 that can lastfor three years or longer without replacement. The high voltageelectrodes 90 are used effectively as capacitors rendering them notself-sacrificing of electrode material to the water complex. Theelectro-magnetic and/or permanent magnetic electrode 60 is encapsulatedand is not exposed to any materials that could possibly breakdownmagnetic or electrical properties or the composite material of themagnets. Hence, the overall water treatment systems 10, 110 operate moreefficiently without the use of harsh, corrosive chemicals, with lessenergy waste and with fewer overall fluid units needed to achieve thesame thermal conductivity for the cooling system as has been previouslydone with only chemicals uses to eliminate living organisms, particulatematerials, and corrosion.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and,accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in allrespects as being illustrative and not restrictive, with the scope ofthe invention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than theforegoing detailed description, as indicating the scope of the inventionas well as all modifications which may fall within a range ofequivalency which are also intended to be embraced therein.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A side-stream particle precipitator watertreatment apparatus for the removal of biologic and particulatematerials and dissolved solids suspended or retained in a water complexand on the surfaces of containment vessels and conduits for storing andtransporting the water complex through a water cooling systemcomprising: a. a pump for circulating the water complex through thewater treatment apparatus; b. a conductivity meter located at the waterinlet to the pump for providing a sensor measurement of the electricalconductivity of the water complex; c. a program logic controller tocontrol the timing and voltage supply to the water treatment apparatus,said program logic controller regulates the on/off timing of thecirculating pump, the on/off timing, voltage levels and polarity ofelectrodes contained within ionizer cells, the on/off timing and voltagelevels of the cooling system conduit electrodes, and controls thevalving for regulating the flow direction and flow rate of the watercomplex through the ionizer cells and mechanical filters for filteringof particulate matter from the water complex by continual monitoring ofthe conductivity sensor measurement of the conductivity meter; d. aplurality ionizers comprising at least a first and second ionizerssequentially connected with each respective ionizer containing anelectrode, wherein said electrodes, when energized, act to substantiallyeliminate biologic materials in the form of aerobic and anaerobicorganisms and particulate solids that are in solution in the watercomplex; e. said first ionizer comprised of a containment vessel thathouses a first dual-spaced apart electrode structure extending into theflow path of the water complex within the vessel with each of the dualelectrodes being of titanium, wherein, when such dual electrodes areenergized under the regulation of the programmable logic controller witheither the same or reverse polarity dc voltage, the dual electrodesdrive free H₂ and O₂ from the water complex depriving the water complexof those chemicals resulting in the substantial elimination of mostaerobic and anaerobic organisms that are in solution in the watercomplex for the lack of said chemicals; f. said second ionizer beingcomprised of a containment vessel that houses a single electrodestructure extending into the flow path of the water complex within saidvessel with said electrode consisting of a plurality of high-intensitypermanent magnets positioned with spacing and polarity positioningmaintained along the entire length of the electrode within anon-conducting outer tube, wherein said permanent magnets impart asurface charge to any clump, coagulate or colloidal particulate mattermaking particles in the range of 1-5 microns attract other particles tocombine together making particles of larger sizes that will precipitateout of solution and be removed by mechanical filtering of theparticulate solids from the water complex; g. a plurality of mechanicalvortex precipitators connected in series to mechanically precipitatesaid particles of larger size out of the water complex for disposal,each of said plurality of mechanical vortex precipitators beingcomprised of a containment vessel having an inlet permitting the watercomplex to flow into and downward through an outer cylindrical chambersurrounding a central cylindrical chamber housing a static mixer locatedin an upper portion thereof and a trap at the bottom of the centralcylindrical chamber with an outlet located above the central cylindricalchamber and the static mixer for the water complex outflow, wherein eachof said mechanical precipitators forces the entering water complexdownward through the outer cylindrical chamber and into the centralcylindrical chamber creating a vortex having an upward flow toward thestatic mixer, said static mixer causing a delay in the outward flow ofthe water complex through the outlet, said water complex and thesuspended and dissolved solids contained therein are retained within thestatic mixer for a limited time causing the return of the suspendedparticulate materials to the vortex below in the central cylindricalchamber which forces the suspended particulate materials outward to thesides of the central cylindrical chamber to precipitate down along thechamber walls to the bottom of the central cylindrical chamber andthrough a plurality of holes to be collected in the trap below fordisposal; h. a high voltage low wattage electrodes situated within oneor more conduits in the water cooling system to negatively charge thewater complex creating a breakdown in the laminar boundary along theinner surfaces of the conduits in contact with the water complex thatwill dislodge and remove scale, slime, and some corrosion from theconduit surfaces and to disperse any retained dissolved solids withinthe water complex; whereby the water complex is cleansed of biologic andparticulate matter either in suspension or residing on conduit orcontainment vessel surfaces increasing the thermal conductivity of thewater complex and reducing overall water usage.
 2. The water treatmentapparatus of claim 1, wherein the dual electrodes housed in the firstionizer are continually energized with varying voltage levels within therange of 5-24 volts dc.
 3. The water treatment apparatus of claim 1,wherein the plurality of permanent magnets of the electrode housed inthe second ionizer are spatially separated by a non-conducting spacerand aligned between the plurality of separating non-conducting spacersback-to-back, each permanent magnet being of the opposite polarity toits adjacent permanent magnets.
 4. The water treatment apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising one or more additional ionizers positionedbetween the first and second ionizers for treatment of higher volumes ofthe water complex, each said additional ionizers housing a dual-spacedapart electrode structure extending into the flow path of the watercomplex with each electrode made of titanium, wherein, when such dualelectrodes are energized under the regulation of the programmable logiccontroller with either the same or reverse polarity dc voltage, the dualelectrodes drive free H₂ and O₂ from the water complex depriving thewater complex of those chemicals resulting in the substantialelimination of most aerobic and anaerobic organisms that are in solutionin the water complex for the lack of said chemicals.
 5. The watertreatment apparatus of claim 4, wherein the dual electrodes housed inthe one or more additional ionizers are continually energized withvarying voltage levels within the range of 5-24 volts dc.
 6. The watertreatment apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a high voltageelectrode centrally axially positioned within one conduit of the watercooling system for negatively charging the water complex, wherein saidhigh voltage electrode, when energized under the regulation of theprogrammable logic controller, causes the water complex to becomenegatively charged creating a breakdown in the laminar boundary at theinner surfaces of the conduits in contact with the water complex which,in turn, removes scale, slime, and corrosion from the conduit surfacesand dispersing the dissolved solids contained within the water complexincreasing effective cooling and expected thermal exchange for the watercooling system.
 7. The water treatment apparatus of claim 1 furthercomprising a water complex flush which will occur under the regulationof the programmable logic controller, upon the sensing by theconductivity meter of an increased electrical conductivity in the watercomplex, by altering the flow direction and flow rate of the watercomplex through the mechanical precipitators by diverting the watercomplex through a diverting valve and entering through an upper portionof the mechanical vortex precipitators reversing the normal flowpermitting the particulate material precipitated out of the watercomplex and collected in a trap in each of the mechanical precipitatorsto be flushed away along with any dissolved solids and particulatematter retained or suspended in the water complex through a drain valve.8. The water treatment apparatus of claim 1 further comprising aprogrammable logic controller that is capable of being controlled andmonitored from a location remote from the water treatment system througha wired or wireless communications link.